Rank: Private First Class
Unit: B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 11D – Armor Reconnaissance Specialist
Awards: Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Combat Infantryman Badge
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Enlisted by: Selected Service
Date of birth: 17-Feb-1948
Hometown: Leslie, Michigan
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 14-Feb-1968
Start of tour: 19-Jul-1968
Incident date: 23-Sep-1968
Date of casualty: 23-Sep-1968
Age at death: 20
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Small Arms Fire. Gun or small arms fire.
William Nial Farmer died from wounds received while on combat operation when engaged hostile force in firefight.
Location of fatality: Binh Duong, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Woodlawn Cemetery, Leslie, Michigan, USA
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BRONZE STAR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WILLIAM NAIL FARMER
23 SEPTEMBER 1968
B TROOP, 1st SQUADRON
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Private First Class Farmer distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 23 September 1968 while serving as a machine gunner on an armored cavalry assault vehicle assigned to Troop B, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date, Troop B was conducting a mounted night ambush patrol through an area of dense rubber trees when it was engaged by an unknown-sized Viet Cong force using small arms, automatic weapons and antitank rocket fire. As Troop B maneuvered into their assault position, Private Farmer, with complete disregard for his personal safety, exposed himself to the torrent of enemy bullets to shoot a deadly and accurate volume of fire on the hostile positions with his M-60 machine gun. As the troop began its assault, Private Farmer’s vehicle sustained a direct hit from an antitank rocket, but he remained exposed in his vehicle expertly employing his machine gun to effectively suppress the Viet Cong fire. Seconds later, a second enemy round struck his vehicle, mortally wounding him. Private First Class Farmer’s unwavering devotion to duty and profound personal courage were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1427 (9 October 1968)